Hand tool with axially movable clutch means



Sept. 13, 1966 E. BOHNET 3,272,246

HAND TOOL WITH AXIALLY MOVABLE CLUTCH MEANS Filed Aug. lO, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EWL BONNET ywmdm ATTORNEY5 E. Bol- INET 3,272,246

HAND TOOL WITH AXIALLY MOVABLE CLUTCH MEANS Sept. 13, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10, 1964 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 3,272,246 HAND TOOL WITH AXIALLY MOVABLE CLUTCH MEANS Emil Bohnet, 204 Ontario St., Buffalo, N.Y. Filed Aug. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 388,658 6 Claims. (Cl. 145-76) This invention relates generally to the class of tools and is directed particularly to improvements in hand tools.

The hand tool of the present invention is a driver for screws and other articles of a like character which are designed to be turned or rotated in putting them into use or removing the same from use.

A particular object of the present invention is to provide an improved hand tool of the character stated which has a handle structure which permits the operator to maintain a constant grasping engagement therewith while the driver bit is being rotated, and wherein a new and improved clutching means is provided between the handle and the shank o-f the bit.

Another and more important object of the invention is to provide in a hand tool, an improved clutching means between the tool shank and the handle of the tool, which clutching means embodies inter-engaging pins and sockets whereby a non-slipping coupling can be maintained between the handle of the tool and the element -being driven or rotated.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved hand tool of the screw driver type, having a handle construction which permits an operator to maintain a grasp thereon while the screw engaging driver -or bit is being rotated and wherein Imeans is provided for easily and quickly detaching the yshaft of the driver from the handle for replacement by a driver of another type.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hand tool of the character stated having a driver element and a handle rotatably connected together with a clutching 4means for permitting relative rotation between the shank of the driver and the handle and for coupling the driver and handle together as desired and wherein a -means is provided for latching the clutching elements to maintain them permanently connected together in the use of the tool or to maintain them permanently `separated as desired.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description of the same proceeds and the invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of the invention in one embodiment thereof in which a hand crank is coupled with the driver shaft for effecting rotation of the latter while the handle is being grasped, and showing the latching means associated with the clutching elements.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 2 2 of FIGURE l.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, on a still larger scale, taken ysubstantially on the line 3 3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a -sectional view corresponding to FIG- URE 2 and showing the handle and driver shank shifted `relative to one another to permit relative .rotation between the same.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view corresponding to FIG- URE 2 and showing the handle and driver shank carried clutch element-s latched in separated relationship.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view lon an enlarged scale illustrating the elements of the latching means, the sec- 3,272,246 Patented Sept. 13, 1966 ice tion being taken substantially on the line 6 6 of FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line 7 7 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8 8 of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction of the handle carried clutch element.

yFIGURE 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 9 9 of FIGURE 4 looking in the opposite direction or the direction of the shank attached clutching element.

FIGURE 10 is a view in perspective illustrating the clutch elements.

FIGURE 11 illustrates another embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE l2 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of the handle of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 11 and showing a portion of the driver shank in elevation.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the embodiment lof the invention shown in perspective in FIGURE l is generally designated 10.

In the tool as illustrated and generally designated by the reference character 10, the numeral 12 generally designates the handle of the tool and the numeral 14 generally designates the driver which is here illustrated as being in the form of a conventional screw driver and comprising the tang 16 or shank and the blade or bit 18.

The handle 12 comprises a sleeve 20 having the bore 22 which is of substantially greater diameter than the tang 16, the end of which extends through the sleeve as shown.

The forward end of the `sleeve 20, that is, the end nearest to the blade 18, has secured therein by screws 24 or other suitable means, the collar 26 having an enlarged forward end lpart 28 lof circular form, which part 28 forms the handle attached clutch element, from the forward face 30 of which project two or more clutch pins 32.

The collar and the integral clutch member 28 forming a part thereof, has the axial bore 34 therethrough which is of diameter to ysnugly slidably receive the tang 16 of the driver element and the clutch pins 32 are disposed in diametrically spaced relation on opposite sides of the bore 34.

Encircling and secured to the forward end of the handle sleeve 20 and projecting 4forwardly therefrom is a skirt 36 having a vforward end portion 38 of enlarged diameter, which encircles and is spaced from the clutch member 28, for-ming therewith the annular lforwardly -opening recess 40. The forward end of the skirt 36 protects the clutch pins 32, as shown.

The tang 16 of the driver 14 passes through the collar 26 and the handle clutch jaw 28 as stated and extends to and beyond the outer end of the handle sleeve 20. On its outer end the tang is screw threaded as indicated at 42 and this screw threaded end of the tang i-s threaded into the threaded bore 44 in the top of a recessed cap or knob `46.

The recess of this knob or ca-p 46 is designated 48 and is of a diameter to receive the outer end of the handle sleeve 20, WhicPi-,turns in the recess as will be readily apparent.

Encircling the portion of the tang 16 which lies within the handle sleeve 20, is a coil 'spring 50, one end of which bears upon the collar 26 while the other end bears against the bottom of the recess 48. This -spring is constantly under compression and accordingly tends to lurge the handle sleeve 20 upwardly or in a direction away from the blade end of the driver 14.

The outer end of the tang has formed therein a tapered bore 52 to receive a crank handle securing screwk 54.

The cap 46 has Vsecured thereto, by the screw 54 the arm 56 of a crank member generally designated 58. Pivotally or rotatably attached to the outer end of the arm of the crank member is a handle 60.

The crank 58 facilitates the operation of the implement as will be hereinafter described and as shown the arm 56 is preferably flat and -lies against the top of the cap 46 and has a suitable opening therein for the reception of the head of the screw 54 after the latter is passed through the opening and into the tapped bore 52.

' Secured to the tang 16 is the circular clutch jaw 62, the diameter of which is approximately the same as the diameter of the jaw 28. This clutch jaw 62 has `an axial bore 64 therethrough, through which the tang of the driver extends.

The tang carried clutch jaw 62 has the flat face 66 in which are formed a number of tooth sockets 68 concentrically with and around the bore 64 and circumferentially spaced and 4also radially spaced so that any two diametrically opposite sockets may receive two diametrically opposite clutch pins 32.

While two clutch pins 32 have been illustrated with Ieight tooth receiving sockets obviously the number of pins Iand sockets may be varied as desired.

`Referring now to FIGURE 6, it will be seen that the tang clutch jaw 62 has a radial bore 70 therein which eX- tends from the outer side of the jaw body and opens into the axial bore 64. This radial bore is threaded to receive `a set screw 72 such as the conventional Allen screw which impinges upon the surface of the tang 16 to secure the tang jaw in position and when the screw is in operative position its outer end is within the radius of the jaw body.

Diametrically aligned with the set screw receiving bore 70 is a latch pin bore 74 which leads from the bore 64 ,and opens at its outer end in the reduced diameter portion The tang 'attached clutch jaw 62 is encased in the cylindrical shell 78. The end of the shell adjacent to the jaw 28 is open and the outside diameter ofthe shell is such as to be snugly received within the extended portion 38 of the skirt 36 and in the recess 40'.

The opposite end of the shell from the jaw 28, has a wall 80 through the center of which the opening 82 is formed for the passage of the tang 16.

The side w-all of the shell 78 has formed therethrough the opening 84 through which a suitable wrench may be passed for engaging the set screw 72.

At the opposite side of the body or skirt portion of the shell 78, such body has formed therein the elongate slot 86 which extends longitudinally of the shell 4and terminates at its two ends in the circular openings 88.

The numeral 90 designates latch pin which has a headed end 92 slidably positioned in the pin bore 74 and which extends outwardly through the reduced diameter portion 76 of this bore. This pin also projects through the slot 86 in the shell 78 and has mounted on its outer end the knurled nut 94 which is secured to the pin by a set screw 96. The inner side of the nut 94 is formed with the circular extension 98 and from this extension there projects the annulus 100 which -is of smaller outside diameter than the extension 98 and encircles the pin 90. The annulus 100 is of an outside diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the holes 88 into which it is adapted to be selectively introduced but the :annulus diameter is greater than the width of the slot 86 between the openings 88. Consequently, in order to move the annulus 100 from one opening to the other it must be pulled outwardly from the opening in which it is engaged and moved along the slot to the other opening.

Housed within the pin bore74 is a coil spring which is under tension between the head 92 of the pin and the outer end of the bore and this spring constantly urges inward movement of the pin and the nut 94 to which it is attached and thus will hold the nut carrying .annulus in either of the holes in which it is secured.

The shell 78 is, of course, movable on the tang when the annulus 100 has been withdrawn from either of the openings 88.

In the use of the tool, the latching pin and nut is set either in the clutch disengaged or the clutch engaged position.

FIGURES 2 and 4 illustrate the position of the shell 78 when it is secured in a position to permit manual disengagement and engagement of the clutch members for using both the crank and the hand grasping the handle to turn the driver. In this opera-tion if the handle 12 is grasped with the left hand and the crank is held with the right hand, the sleeve 20 can be raised to disengage the clutch members and then reversely turned and then reengaged and both the hand grasping the handle and the hand grasping the crank can then be used for imparting the desired turning force to the driver.

For rapid rotation of the driver where relatively great force is not required, the latch member pin is pulled outwardly and the shell is then shifted toward the handle. This will set the annulus in the lower opening 88 so that the handle sleeve 20 may be turned freely. The left hand then grasping the sleeve 20 can merely hold the sleeve while the crank is used alone to turn the driver 14.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG- URES 1l and l2 the latching means for holding the clutch jaws separated is not employed. In this embodiment the tool as a -whole is designated as a whole by the reference 210.

The numeral 212 designates the handle while the driver is generally designated 214.

The handle 212 embodies the sleeve 216, the outer end of which is rotatably engaged in the recess 218 of the cap or knob 220.

The bore 222 of the sleeve is reduced at the inner or forward end to the small diameter passage 224 through which extends the tang 226 of the driver.

The forward end of the sleeve 216 is of relatively heavy or thick construction as indicated at 228. This forms the body of the handle jaw, from the forward side of which extend the clutch pins 230.

Secured to the clutch jaw body 228 is the annular skirt 232 which extends forwardly a substantial distance beyond the clutch teeth 230.

The tang 226 of the driver is threaded at its outer end, as indicated at 234, in the cap 220 and secured against rotation by the set screw 236.

The numeral 238 designates the tang held clutch jaw which is in the form of a cylindrical body having an axial passage therethrough to receive the tang 226 and this body is secured to the tang as shown by the set screw 242.

The surface of the clutch jaw 238 which opposes the jaw body 228 is provided with sockets 244 'to receive the clutch pins or teeth 230 as will be readily seen.

Within the bore 222 the handle 216 houses the coil spring 246.

The spring is under compression between the inner side or bottom of the recess 218 in the cap 220 and the clutch jaw body 228 and constantly urges relative movement between the tang and the sleeve in a direction to bring the clutch bodies into coupled relation.

-The length of the handle sleeve 216 is such that when the clutch bodies are in engaged or clutching relation the outer end of the sleeve will be spaced from the bottom of the recess 218 a distance which will permit the shifting of the sleeve against the resistance of the spring, to a suicient extent to withdraw the clutch pins 230 from their sockets.

In use of the second embodiment of the tool the handle 212 maybe gripped in the right hand and the left hand placed -upon the cap 220 and when the blade 248 is engaged with a screw, the latter may be turned or driven by the process of pressing downwardly with the left hand while alternately raising lthe sleeve to disengage the clutch jaws and lowering it to engage the clutch jaws, the sleeve being turned counterclockwise Iwhen it is raised and then turned clockwise after it is lowered and the jaws are in clutched engagement one with the other.

Obviously, of course, the reverse of these movements would be performed if the screw is being extracted in stead of being driven into a piece of wood.

It will be seen from the foregoing that in both of the embodiments of the invention the clutch jaw teeth in the form of pins will provide, when engaged in their sockets, a positive non-slipping engagement as distinguished from tapered teeth of a form corresponding to conventional gear teeth.

It will also be seen that -in both forms of the invention the engaging portions of the clutch jaws Iare completely housed or shielded whereby the danger of a user pinching his hand between the clutch elements is eliminated.

In addition to the foregoing advantageous features, it will be seen that the drivers are easily removed from the handles and from the jaw members attached to the tangs thereof, whereby drivers or operating implements of different types or forms may be substituted. For example, in place of a sere-w driver type element there may be provided an element having a tip formed to engage in the socket of Allen screw or having a tip formed to engage the slots of a Phillips screw or the driver may have a socket wrench head. Obviously, still other types of units having suitably formed tangs might be used in place of the drivers here illustrated and described.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms withou-t departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the present embodiment lis therefore illustrative Iand not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. A hand tool of the character described, comprising an elongate handle having an axial bore therethrough and having a rear end and a forward end, a cap on and rotatably engaged with said rear end, an elongate driver element having a tang and a means at one end adapted for connection with a rotatable element, a pair of clutch members each having a passage therethrough, the passages of `said members being aligned and having said tang extending therethrough and through said bore of the handle, means attaching the tang Iat its other end to said cap, one of said clutch members being carried by the forward end of the handle, means releasably securing the other clutch member to the tang, said clutch members having opposing faces adapted to be placed in substantially abutting relation, at least two pin members projecting from one of said clutch faces, the other clutch face having sockets for snugly receiving said pins in the clutch engaged position of the members, a skirt encircling and secured to one of said members and projecting therefrom to an extent to enclose a portion of the other member when the clutch members are engaged, and spring means within the handle bore and retained under tension between the cap and the handle carried clutch member and constantly urging the handle in a direction to engage the clutch pins in said sockets, and the handle being retractable against the tension of the spring means for disengaging the pins from their sockets and also being rotatable on the tang when said pins are disengaged from said sockets, a -cylindrical shell enclosing the clutch secured to the tang and having an open end directed toward the hand carried clutch member and being slidable on the enclosed clutch member, means for securing the shell against movement on the enclosed clutch member when in non-working position thereon whereby said handle is freely reciprocable on the tang for engaging and disengaging the clutch members, and said shell securing means being adapted to secure the shell in a second position with respect to the enclosed clutch member wherein the .shell has an operative connection with the handle and holds the handle against reciprocable movement and holds the clutch members in disengaged relationship.

2. The invention according to lclaim 1, wherein the said means releasably securing the other clutch member to the tang, comprises a set screw threaded into a bore extending radially lof the said other clutch 'member and engaging at its inner end -against the tang and when so engaged having =its outer end lying wi-thin .the circumference of the latter clutch member.

3. The invention as defined by claim 1, with a crank secured to the said cap whereby to impart continuous rotation -to the cap and to t-he driver element connected thereto while the handle is grasped and while the clutch members are disengaged one from the other.

4. A hand tool of the character described, comprising an elongate handle having an axial bore therethrough and having a rear end and a forward end, a cap on and rotatably engaged with said rear end, an elongate driver element having a tang and a means at one end Iadapted for connection with a rotatable element, a pair of clutch members each having a passage therethrough, the passages of said members being aligned and having said tang extending there-through and through said bore of the handle, means attaching the tang at -its other end to said cap, one of said clutch members being carried by the forward end of the handle, means releasably securing the other clutch member to the tang, said clutch members having opposing faces adapted to be placed in substantially abutting relation, at least two pin members projecting from lone of said clutch faces, the other clutch face having sockets for snugly receiving said pins in the clutch engaged position of the members, a skirt encircling and secured to one of said members and projecting therefrom to an extent to enclose a portion of the -other member when the clutch members are engaged, and spring means within the handle bore and retained under tension between the cap and the handle carried clutch lmember and constantly urging the handle in la direction to engage the clutch pins in said sockets, and the handle being retractable against the tension of the spring means for disengaging the pins from their sockets and also being rotatable on -the tang when said pins are disengaged from said sockets, said skirt being connected to the handle and having a forward end portion spaced from the encircled member forming a forwardly opening annular recess therearound, a cylindrical shell encircling and axially slidable on the said other member and having a rearwardly directed lopen end adapted to enter said annular recess when in one position on the said one member and when the clutch members are engaged, means for securing the shell in said one position, said shell having another position in which it is moved rearwardly on the said one member to project beyond the adjacent face of the encircled member, the projected end of the shell when in .said other position engaging in the bottom of the recess and maintaining the members in spaced relation whereby the drivermember may be freely rotated, and means for securing the shell in the said other position.

5. The invention as dened by claim 4, with a crank secured to the said cap whereby to impart continuous rotation to the cap and to the driver element connected thereto while the handle is grasped and while the clutch members are disengaged one from the other.

6. The invention las dened by claim 4, wherein the said means for securing the shell in the said one position and in the said other position comprises a pin member reciprocably supported in a radial bore in the tang supported clutch member and having an outer end projecting therefrom, a slot formed in and longitudinally of 7 8 the shell and terminating at each end in anenlarged openr References Cited bythe Examiner pin, a spiing member encircling the pin in said radial 21,707,893 5/1955 Bohnet 81-583 the tang, for selective positioning in the openings at the passage and engaging the pin and a wall of the passage and 5 urging the pin axially toward the tang, and means car- FOREIGN PATENTS ried by the nut adapted for movement in said slot only 8101619 8/1951 Germany; when the nut and pin are pulled outwardly away from 1861808 10/1922 Great Brltam end of the slot whereby to lock the shell in a selected 10 WILLIAM FELDMAN Pnmary Examiner' one of its positions lon the encircled clutch member. R- V- PARKER, JR ASS-Yfnf Examiner- 

1. A HAND TOOL OF THE CHARACTERS DESCRIBED, COMPRISING AN ELONGATE HANDLE HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THERETHROUGH AND HAVING A REAR END AND A FORWARD END, A CAP ON AND ROTATABLY ENGAGED WITH SAID REAR END, AN ELONGATE DRIVER ELEMENT HAVING A TANG AND A MEANS AT ONE END ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A ROTATABLE ELEMENT, A PAIR OF CLUTCH MEMBERS EACH HAVING A PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, THE PASSAGES OF SAID MEMBERS BEING ALIGNED AND HAVING SAID TANG EXTENDING THERETHROUGH AND THROUGH SAID BORE OF THE HANDLE, MEANS ATTACHING THE TANG AT ITS OTHER END TO SAID CAP, ONE OF SAID CLUTCH MEMBERS BEING CARRIED BY THE FORWARD END OF THE HANDLE, MEANS RELEASABLY SECURING THE OTHER CLUTCH MEMBER TO THE TANG, SAID CLUTCH MEMBERS HAVING OPPOSING FACES ADAPTED TO BE PLACED IN SUBSTANTIALLY ABUTTING RELATION, AT LEAST TWO PIN MEMBERS PROJECTING FROM ONE OF SAID CLUTCH FACES, THE OTHER CLUTCH FACE HAVING SOCKETS FOR SNUGLY RECEIVING SAID PINS IN THE CLUTCH ENGAGED POSITION OF THE MEMBERS, A SKIRT ENCIRCLING AND SECURED TO ONE OF SAID MEMBERS AND PROJECTING THEREFROM TO AN EXTENT TO ENCLOSE A PORTION OF THE OTHER MEMBER WHEN THE CLUTCH MEMBERS ARE ENGAGED, AND SPRING MEANS WITHIN THE HANDLE BORE AND RETAINED UNDER TENSION BETWEEN THE CAP AND THE HANDLE CARRIED CLUTCH MEMBER AND CONSTANTLY URGING THE HANDLE IN A DIRECTION TO ENGAGE THE CLUTCH PINS IN SAID SOCKETS, AND THE HANDLE BEING RETRACTABLE AGAINST THE TENSION OF THE SPRING MEANS FOR DISENGAGING THE PINS FROM THEIR SOCKETS AND ALSO BEING ROTATABLE ON THE TANG WHEN SAID PINS ARE DISENGAGED FROM SAID SOCKETS, A CYLINDRICAL SHELL ENCLOSING THE CLUTCH SECURED TO THE TANG AND HAVING AN OPEN END DIRECTED TOWARD THE HAND CARRIED CLUTCH MEMBER AND BEING SLIDABLE ON THE ENCLOSED CLUTCH MEMBER, MEANS FOR SECURING THE SHELL AGAINST MOVEMENT ON THE ENCLOSED CLUTCH MEMBER WHEN IN NON-WORKING POSITION THEREON WHEREBY SAID HANDLE IS FREELY RECIPROCABLE ON THE TANG FOR ENGAGING AND DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH MEMBERS, AND SAID SHELL SECURING MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SECURE THE SHELL IN A SECOND POSITION WITH RESPECT TO THE ENCLOSED CLUTCH MEMBER WHEREIN THE SHELL HAS AN OPERATIVE CONNECTION WITH THE HANDLE AND HOLDS THE HANDLE AGAINST RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT AND HOLDS THE CLUTCH MEMBERS IN DISENGAGED RELATIONSHIP. 